Trousers-stretcher.



1:.- R. BRINKER.

TROUSERS STRETGHEB. AYPLIOATION FILED APB.23, 1 910.

- 992,402. Patented May 16,1911.

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E. R. BRINKER. TROUSERS STRBTGHER. AYPLIUATION FILED APR.23, 1510.

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STATS EARL R. BRINKER, OF SPENCER, OHIO.

TROUSERS-STRETCHER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EARL R. BRINKER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Spencer, in the county of Medina and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Trousers-Stretchers, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This. invention relates to trousers stretchers, and has for its objectto provide such a device which is adapted to stretch both legs of a pairof trousers at once, by means of an expansible frame inserted in eachleg of the trousers.

A further object is to provide a novel means for operating both framessimultaneously.

Another object is to provide a novel form of means for holding thedevice in engaged position.

A further object is to provide a novel form of suspending means for thetrousers cooperating with the remainder of the device in such a way asto facilitate the operation of expanding the frame.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription, and it will be understood that changes in the specificstructure shown and described may be made within the scope of the claimswithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side View of the device, Fig. 2 is anedge view thereof, Fig. 3 is a top view, Fig. 4: is a cross sectionalView of the locking means, Fig. 5 is a side view of the device incoengagement with a pair of trousers, showing a portion of the mechanismin dotted outline. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view, in side elevation ofthe upper portion of the stretcher.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a pair of trousers 10 havingopposite legs 11 in each of which there is inserted an expansiblecollapsible frame, including the vertical creasing members 12 and havingpivoted at their opposite ends link members 13 and 14 respectively, thefirst named being shorter than the latter, the outer ends of the linksbeing inserted between the divergent side members 12 and pivoted in asuitable manner, their inner end portions being provided with aplurality of longitudinally spaced transverse perforations 15, the linksbeing inclined upwardly with respect to the trousers, and intersectingeach other, at their points of intersection being pivotally con-Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 23, 1910.

Patented May 16, 1911.

Serial No. 557,231.

nected to a vertically extending operating rod 16 having longitudinallyspaced openings 17, by means of suitable pins 18 projected through theperforations in the links and rods, as shown. The rods 16 of each frameare carried upon a common stem 19, from which they diverge as shown at20, the stem having a series of rack teeth or other suitableirregularities formed in one edge, and carrying a locking collar 21slidably thereon, the collar having an oblong slot verticallytherethrough receiving the stem 19, and being provided at one end of theslot with a suitable tooth 22 arranged to project into the toothedportion 20 of the stem to hold it against relative longitudinal movementthrough the collar. The stem is movable into the opposite end of theslot, however, to disengage the tooth from the notched portion 20, butcarried upon the upper edge of the collar there is a pivoted dog 23arranged to swing inwardly over the slot and bear against the rear sideof the stem, to hold it against movement out of engagement with thetooth 22. The dog is controlled by gravity which tends to normally holdit in such engagement with the stem to retain the stem in lockedposition.

Carried pivotally by the collar 21, there are oppositely extendingpairsof resilient divergent clamping arms 24-, adapted to clamp therebetweenthe upper portions of trousers for suspension thereof, and beingprovided intermediately of their lengths with clamping screws 25 fordrawing the arms together and bringing them into coengagement withopposite sides of fabric engaged therebe tween.

The upper portion ofthe stem 19 serves as a suitable operating handleand has a transverse opening 19 therethrough by which the device may besuspended from a nail or other projection.

In use, the spaced frames are inserted in respective legs of trousers tobe stretched and the clamping arms 24 ooengaged with the upper portionsthereof to hold them at a proper height with respect to the frame. Afterthis operation the dog 28 is raised and the stem 19 forced downwardly,distending the frames through the agency of the rods 16, and whensufficient tension is produced the notched side of the stem is broughtinto engagement with the tooth 22 and the dog 23 allowed to fall againstthe rear side of the stem to hold it in locked position. If it should befound that one side of the trousers is stretched more than the other,the device may be loosened by raising the stem 19 and the side of thetrousers which is found too loose adjusted higher between the clampingarms 24, after which the second operation of the stem 19 will bring theframes into more equal action upon the opposite side of the trousers.

In Fig. (3 there is shown means for more etfectivelyinsuring theforceful spreading of the frames, which consists in connecting links 26with the links 1 intermediately of the length of the latter, the links26 being connected to the collar 21 inwardly of the spring arms 2% insuch a way as to prevent interference to the operation of the latter,and by this means when the stem 19 is forced downwardly, the spreadingof the frames is positively induced. The operation of the modified formof the device accomplished in the same manner as that previouslydescribed.

It will be seen from the foregoing that an extremely simple, effectiveand cheaply constructed trousers stretcher is provided which will save aconsiderable amount of time in adjustment of trousers thereon owing tothe arrangement for stretching both the legs of the trouserssimultaneously, and which is further eflicient in providing means forcontinuing the creasing of trousers above the leg portions, the clampmembers being adapted to extend downward adjacent to the rods 12,whereby thecrease may be continued up the front of the trousers and upthe back as is customary in pressing such garments with an iron.

hat is claimed is:

1. In a trousers stretcher, the combination with an expansible frameincluding vertical crease forming members and pivoted inwardly extendinglinks connected to the op-- posite ends of each, a vertical operatingmember pivotally connected to the inner ends of the links, and having arack near its upper end, a collar member slidable upon the upper portionof the operating member, having a tooth for engagement with said rack,resilient adjustable clamping members pivoted to the collar and adaptedto hold the upper portions of the trousers, links pivotally connected tothe collar and to the upper of said links, andmeans on the collar toengage the operating member to hold the same in adjusted position.

2. In a trousers stretcher, the combination with an expansible frameincluding vertical crease forming members and pivoted in-- wardlyextending links connected to the opposite ends of each, a verticaloperating member pivotally connected to the inner ends of the links andhaving a rack near its upper end, a collar member sliding upon the upperportion of the operating member having a tooth adapted for engagementwith said rack, resilient adjustable clamping members pivoted to thecollar and adapted to hold the upper portions of the trousers, linkspivotally connected to the collar and to the upper of said links and apivoted gravity controlled friction member on the collar adapted forengagement with the operating member to hold the same in adjustedpositions, and to hold the tooth on said collar in engagement with saidrack.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

EARL R. BRINKER. Witnesses T. W. SHAW, GEORGE W. TINGLE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

